BVI HSA Testing Delays attributed to new system implementation

From BVI Health Services Authority -

"Upgrade" to two more days in quarantine.

so now tourists here for 7 days if tested at 9am in Road Town on day 4 will get their results on day 6 at 9am and thats if there is no backlog so that leaves them 1 day to enjoy the BVI. This also stops anyone taking a day 4 test on any outer island as the results would never get back in time for anything except the trip home.

My buddy who has lived on island for decades assured me when I was questioning him about the opportunity to get vaccinations widely given and drop the quarantine. “I’m pretty certain they will mess it up” he replied with frustration and another word for trust. I see the prime minister and other officials are under quarantine from the funeral last week 2here the Covid positive person was in attendance.

They were up to 13 positives from 8 or 9. I was unclear as to whether the increase was from tourists or if it was fall out from the funeral.

Perhaps a bigger issue is exit testing. The US requires a test within 3 days. If it takes the BVI two days to process a test, there is little margin for error time wise. Plus, how far in advance can you sign up for that test? What if all the testing slots are taken?

Now they are saying 50 ferry passengers, which doesn't leave many slots for airport arrivals. I would still like to come, but the obstacles only grow.

So....we were hoping for better protocols by June? Looks like that is a joke....

I assume the additional delay is temporary?

Not sure the number of ferry arrivals has anything to do with the airport arrivals. In any event there are so many issues with BVI travel it just seems like the unknown will stop most folks from coming. They have to start allowing vaccinated folks to come and go without tests or other issues.

Wow. Any thought of organizing a trip in June is now a no-go. We were thinking of taking advantage of the great specials offered.

Thorsten, all arrivals are linked. The constraint is the number of Covid tests they can do in a day. Fifty arrivals by ferry means fifty fewer by air - simple as that. When the US added the need for an arrival test (departure from the BVI), that effectively reduced tourism by 33% (if my math is correct). Add in a Covid outbreak as there is now, and all bets are off.

It's not clear to me why their new software is delaying things. It rather sounds like an excuse. My suspicion is inadequate staffing. Couldn't come at a worse time.

Well, they could cut down the number of tests needed by up to 67% if they mirror CDC guidelines and require a negative test prior to arrival w/ proof of vaccine and then just test departures.

why would or should the BVI mirror CDC guidleines when the USA does not?

You are asking the BVI to let everyone in thats vaccinated but still test them so they can go home?

Now once the US follows the guidelines I am sure the BVI will follow as they have done with the 3ft rule at school.

CDC issued new advice yesterday saying vaccinated people can travel without risk. Need a Covid test within three days of entering the US.

The BVI can do what they want. However, if they only required a negative test three days before entry, the economy would rebound much more quickly.

I’m actually more concerned with them locking down again than dropping their protocols. From what I glean they’ve only vaccinated 500 more people in the last 3 or so weeks for a total of about 7500. Couple that with the rise from zero to 13 cases, it’s a little concerning. I’d say trip insurance would be in order just in case.

I don’t see the reasoning with the program going so slowly that they don’t go ahead and give the second dose to those who want it now when many are hesitating. Then perhaps if cases rise more people will want to take the jab and those having had one dose and are now due for a second will be out of the way. I know they kicked it out to 12 weeks in hopes of getting more vaccinated. I’m not sure if astraZenica is normally a month between or 8 weeks.

Anyway the stuff doesn’t do any good in vials.

Well, I'd love to hear other suggestions Sleepychef, the vaccines work. If people don't believe that then there's nothing I can say to change their minds.i don't want to see more trips cancelled, but either way, keeping the gate locked and not either vaccinating or building herd immunity by having it run its course is not a tenable solution. Eventually, Covid will make it's way to the islands.

Will... The original guidance on Astra was 4 weeks but trials here in the UK showed that increasing the period between the doses improved overall effectiveness. Doses of both Astra Zenica and Pfizer, the two in use here, are both given at 11-12 weeks interval on the basis that most of the protection comes from the first dose so, with limited supplies, it is better to get a single dose into more people than two doses into fewer people.

We are going for our day 4 test tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how long it takes. Took well over 48 hours to get the day 0 test but we are having a great trip. Very few boats and lovely weather. Sailing from beautiful spot to another beautiful spot is not too oppressive. I just hope they get the tests back so we can go home at the end of the trip.. If not I guess we will just keep sailing around.

We go for our return test today....will be happy with 48 hours...I wonder if they give priority to those so tourists can make their flights.....will let you know.

Tourists and priority don’t belong in the same sentence when it comes to the BVI - lol.

Hi Mike,

That makes sense. Indeed these vaccines have proven to be so effective that I wondered in the states if they shouldn’t push out the second dose so they could get more of the high risk pool covered quickly ie “us old people” dang that’s hard to say
They didn’t do it although I heard some docs advocating it.

Now I think the problem here will likely be the same situation in the bvi. There will be a lot of vaccine but not much demand. I didn’t realize they had better outcomes waiting longer for second dose. I just hate to see a system set up and no business. . I think the U.K. like our experience had enough pain that a most of those in vulnerable groups were only too happy to get the jab. I hope that happens in the bvi without the deaths elsewhere, but does not look like it currently.

In Canada our second dose has been pushed out to four months from the recommended three weeks.

Has anybody used the concierge Covid testing service down there from a boat?

Did you hit the lottery?

LOL...maybe if I played

Ok...so we wasted a lot of time getting ourselves put in the system for our return test...problems with the new system....finally they just took our money..$80 each now and sent us over to the other building to get the test,, VG......they said we could come pick up the results either tomorrow night or early on Tuesday morning...fingers crossed.

Sorry to hear you had to go through that. First I've heard of increasing the exit test fee. A most curious tourism strategy: increase the length of quarantine, fees, transport costs and administrative hassles.

We had friends test last Wednesday 10:30am, results came 38 hours later at 12:30am Friday.

I think there's an extra fee on JVD and VG. Still $70 on Tortola.

Thanks, Jason. I e-mailed the gentleman on the taxi commission a couple weeks ago to ask how much our day four testing transport would cost. No response to date. Not inspiring confidence in the plan.

The response I got from Deputy Governor David Archer and Mr. Jevaughn Parsons, in charge of Taxi and Livery, was that the published Taxi Tariff was applicable for land transport and boat transport would be determined prior to implementation which they said would be April 24.

I was told the rates published here: https://www.bvitourism.com/taxis are current but may be revised in the future.

This involves boat and land, and contradictory information has been given. My guess is the cost will be$260, but wish they would say.

We were charged $20 for the 2 of us from Mahoe Bay VG to the clinic roundtrip....

We are just back from a 9 day bareboat charter through TMM. Prior to departure we had some issues with the BVI gateway portal until we were informed that it is buggy on Safari and that we should use Chrome as our browser to access it, which solved the problem (but it would have been nice to know in advance). Start early and use the WhatsApp technical support for issues. The Day 0 test at the airport was quick and we had our results in 36 hours. The day 4 test was also quick, but we did not receive our results for 57 hours. Cost us a day of diving and a planned trip to Cooper. Although Malone Bay on VG is listed as anchorage only for quarantine, the mooring field at Leverick extends almost into Malone and several boats on quarantine we moored there. The gentleman collecting mooring fees for Leverick asked if we were quarantined and offered to bring us ice and provisions if we were. Very helpful. Once out of quarantine the usual anchorages restaurants are empty. Only a few tables at dinner and some with limited menus. Anegada Beach Club did not grill the lobsters outside but cooked them on the stove inside. Some of the restaurants have limited hours, so be sure to call ahead and check.we had the Baths to ourselves (hello 1985) and there are blissfully no cruise ships allowed yet (though that may change in June). The issue is the pre-departure test to get back into the US. Given he variable timing to receive results (everyone we met had a story) and the fact that the testing done on the out islands are sent Road Test for processing, the 72 hour window gets pretty tight pretty fast. The airline gate agent at EIS counted carefully and we saw one family turned away as their tests were one day too old. At that int they were looking at another 2-3 days to get tested. Overall, we had a great time and the weather wind and sailing spectacular. The only real negative was an underlying testing anxiety that had us either looking for testing sites or waiting on results 24-7. Have fun but plan your trip carefully.

Thank you, catman, for your post. We are currently scheduled 5/29-6/8, and appreciate all the feedback from those that have recently gone. I am hopeful that the delay in testing results has truly been solved. It sounds like on a 9 day trip, you only had 3 that were out of quarantine (57 hours after day 4 test). Even on a two week charter, nearly half of the trip would be spent in quarantine.

How long did it take for you to get your test results for your return trip to the US? What day, and at what location, did you schedule your test for?

we recently had guests take their travel test on a Wednesday @ 10:30 and received the results Friday @ 12:30am for their noon departure.

We had our test on Virgin Gorda on Easter Sunday around 10 am....we were able to pick up our results at about 11:30 am on Tuesday. They originally told me, when I got tested, that I would have it back by Monday evening.....we were leaving on Wednesday.....

This is my biggest concern....especially if the test would turn out to be a false positive. I am hopeful BVI will find a way to eliminate the Day 4 test and yet remain safe

https://www.facebook.com/groups/619996718685889/permalink/745254502826776/

To me, it would seem logical to do away with the extra testing, if one is fully vaccinated. But to expect things to be logical, I guess is expecting too much?

bailau - the group in question was not fully vaccinated, so they were still at risk of contracting the virus. With packed planes and airports (especially STT!!), travel seems the logical place the virus might be contracted, hence the negative results on arrival and positive on day 4. Most false positives are tied to rapid tests not full PCR (at least my experience here with friends and associates) and BVI is doing full PCR testing. When we visited last month we went in with eyes wide open, knowing all the potential risks, including possible Q and inability to return back to US if, somehow, we contracted COVID there. We should be fully vaccinated before our return trip mid June, and while modified restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers would be welcome, we're not counting on it and again will insure for, and plan for, the risks.

I replied to this facebook post, asking if they used private insurance or bought the travel insurance. They used bluecross and blue shield for their covid insurance. I potentially think this is a mistake, we bought the travel insurance that was recommended.

I agree BoScott. We bought Covid specific travel insurance (medical and quarantine) as well. It also had medical evac. Insurance although we also have that through DAN.

Feel sorry for the group and certainly hope we don't encounter similar problems in July (we'll be full vaccinated by then) but this is the exact reason the BVI has the day 4 test. If they hadn't been tested, and assuming it wasn't a false positive, they would have spent the last few days of the trip as virus spreaders to an unprotected population.

Hmmm...makes me think it is best to buy a travel-specific policy as well instead of using my Florida Blue.

And I agree, Carol — and on top of that...not sure how they will justify allowing “fully vaccinated” cruise ship passengers to wander about in their “bubble” (insert rolling eyes here) while forcing charter and villa guests to test multiple times and quarantine...

So much depends on one's circumstances. If you are staying in your own home, then extra quarantine is not a cost issue. We have worldwide health insurance and MedJet Assist, so that covers medical treatment and/or evacuation.

Having followed this saga on FB, it seems the biggest issue is how they were treated by the government. At a minimum, there should be a second test to confirm positive cases. Unfortunately, the reality doesn't always live up to the BVI Love hype. Visitors also need to acknowledge that they can be the tiny percentage of those for whom things go wrong with regard to Covid.

I assumed if someone was positive we could stay on the boat for the duration in a quarantined area as we have the boat for 14 days...I need to check that out now

Agree there should be a 2nd test...

Thought maybe they were quarantining on land and planning to pick up the boat after.

From what I have heard, if anyone in the charter party tests positive the boat must go to a quarantine dock.

This conversation has hit the nail on the head

As background, my wife and I both had Covid at Christmas
Nothing worse than a bad cold and, by the grace of God, we
didn't spread it to anyone else.
We consider ourselves fortunate
We both got tested. I tested positive and she tested negative.
Of the tests that I have 1st hand knowledge (2), 50% were wrong

The plan was for us to join another couple in April for 3 weeks, land
based, in Virgin Gorda
To get there and back involved a total of 16 tests, 4 tests / person.
Ignoring the initial tests for the other couple, it leaves 14 tests that all
need to be negative or our vacation is a hot mess.
The obsessive planning, practice packing to get everything into carry-ons,
making a new playlist, all the other stupid stuff that was part of previous trips is
replaced with concerns about tests results, something I have no control over

For the people of the BVIs, I hold no hard feelings.
Only hope and best wishes.
I haven't seen anybody that's doing things that much better, certainly not
enough to be pointing fingers, but that's why we canceled our April trip.
We will be rescheduling as soon as possible

Looking forward to hearing of all your wonderful trips and vacationing vicariously

Mike

I checked and they said most likely you will be required to go back to the dock...i figured you would be safer to everyone else at a quarantine spot on the water. You then can move to an approved villa. There is a 2nd case now so expect this publicity to get larger. No good answers here and certainly wouldn't attempt if I didn't have a credit that I had to use

If you own your own place in the bvi but you decide to go on a charter to begin your trip where you will spend the 4 day quarantine and someone tests positive are you allowed to finish the quarantine in your own place at end of charter? I have visions of the couples that veered over the line and were stuck in a small hotel room, in their case waiting till they paid ransom.

Mike we are 6 days out and full of anxiety! We will let everyone know how it goes.

The person on the trip I mentioned above who was positive was retested in the BVIs and was negative. Given the Day 0 test was negative and they were negative coming down I think this can be chalked up to a false positive.

Ironically the social media site this was posted on (BVI Alive) which is moderated by charter brokers and other conflicted parties took the post down.

I am hopeful that enough publicity will be generated here that the BVI government will make provisions for an immediate Day 4 test retake if you are fully vaccinated (and recognize this group only had 1 of 2) and you test positive on Day 4 after testing negative coming down and Day 0...

I just read that the BVI have received 34,000 doses (with a population of ~30,000) but they have only administered 8,500 of them and there is a danger of them expiring soon. This is not a distribution issue, but it seems that the belongers are wary of vaccination. With worldwide supplies of vaccine being so low it is a shame to see this potential waste. I can only shake my head, instead they are blaming their new "more efficient" system for testing delays, and discussions about reducing the 6ft distancing to 3ft so that the schools can reopen... St, Kitts and Grenada are looking to make vaccination mandatory.

The government has already stated they will be returning some doses to the UK and Dominica if more people don't decide to be vaccinated. At this point, I'd say 10,000 people is an aggressive goal for the BVI so 14,000 doses can be returned/redistributed.

Right before it got taken down the original poster stated that even though the test ultimately came back as a false positive by that time the entire trip was ruined and unsalvageable so just an FYI.

Sorry to be late with my reply MK. We had our pre-departure test on VG and results in 44 hours. We went to bed the night before our flight home not certain if we would have our results in time for a noon flight. They came in sometime after midnight.